Week 9 | Space + Art

This week, we learned about Space + Art, a topic completely different from last week’s Nanotech. Unlike Nanotech, space explores both art and science at a near incomprehensible scale of large magnitude (AAAS - Powers of Ten). Nowadays, space is still relatively unexplored and obscure. However, I believe that the union between space and art can help astrophysicists and scientists unveil space’s mysteries. 

Relative size of the universe (Creighton)
 I first began learning just how unknown the universe truly is thanks to Sci-fi movies (ex: Interstellar) and artists’ prints found in various science magazines such as Scientific American/National Geographic (Bonestell).  Movies like these focused on how the laws of physics and perspective vary by planet; most prominently, gravity. 


Movie poster of Interstellar, a film about multi-dimension space (IMDB)
This concept of dynamic gravity has influenced various artists. Dancing on the Ceiling: Art and Zero Gravity, for example, is a major collaborative exhibition where artists attempt to recreate zero gravity (Forde). While the exhibit is an artistic metaphor for “weightless expression”, it also gives scientists insight into how zero gravity bends perspective.

Zero gravity demonstration at Dancing on the Ceiling (rpi.edu)


To better understand space, scientists at NASA are also utilizing a combination of math, robotics, and space art. NASA recently sent the “Juno” probe to fly by Jupiter and capture images (Greicius). The construction of the entire spacecraft and the data it sends back is largely dependent on mathematical and computational programming. Artists in the NASA Arts Program then take these raw images and transform them into a full-color illustration of what the planet looks like (Ulrich). 



NASA artist's rendition of Juno approaching Jupiter (NASA.gov)

With advances like these, the collaboration between mathematicians, programmers, scientists, and artists will greatly advance space exploration. 

Sources: 

AAAS, Powers of Ten -. "Powers of Ten." Science NetLinks. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2017.

Bonestell. "Bonestell - Home." Bonestell - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2017.

Creighton, Jolene. "Science Explained: How Can the Diameter of the Universe Exceed Its Age?" Futurism. N.p., 13 Mar. 2016. Web. 04 June 2017.

Forde, Kathleen. "Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity Curated by Kathleen Forde : EMPAC Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center : Troy, NY USA." Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity Curated by Kathleen Forde : EMPAC Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center : Troy, NY USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2017.

Greicius, Tony. "Juno." NASA. NASA, 13 Feb. 2015. Web. 04 June 2017.

"Interstellar (2014)." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 04 June 2017.

RPI. "EMPAC Presents: “Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity”." Inside Rensselaer, March 5, 2010: EMPAC Presents: “Dancing on the Ceiling: Art & Zero Gravity” March 18 – April 10. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2017.

Ulrich, Bert. "NASA and the Arts." NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 04 June 2017.






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